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Oil spill threatens rare coral reef in Brazil

Sunday, 03 November 2019 9:43 AM [ Last Update: Sunday, 03 November 2019 9:49 AM ]

An oil spill is seen on Pedra do Sal beach at Itapua neighborhood in Salvador, Bahia state, Brazil October 23, 2019. (Photo by Reuters)

An oil spill that is stretching across Brazil's north east region has reached a rare coral reef in the country, underwater footage from Friday shows.

From late August to the end of October, the oil washed ashore in nine states, according to federal police, closing hundreds of beaches and killing scores of animals. Volunteers trying to clean up the crude without proper equipment have also fallen sick.

Brazil has so far collected some 2,000 tonnes of sludge from its beaches in continuing cleanup efforts, while working to rehabilitate birds and sea turtles coated in the thick crude.

Brazilian investigators said on Friday a Greek-flagged ship carrying Venezuelan crude was the source of oil tarring Brazil's coastline over the past two months, but the firm running the ship said its voyage finished "uneventfully".

(Source: Reuters)

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